Teen Health, Adult Risk

Teen Health, Adult Risk

5 years ago

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From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

Researchers say too little physical activity and too much unhealthy eating are setting teens up for heart disease as adults. At the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Christina Shay made her projection based on national survey data.

Shay says more than 80 percent of teens had a poor diet, such as too few fruits, vegetables and whole grains, and too much salt. She also says many teens didn’t get as much physical activity as they should.

“If we know that these kids are already developing high levels of these risk factors in teenage years, we can expect to see higher rates of cardiovascular disease – and potentially more frequent heart attacks and strokes – as they reach adulthood.”

The study in the journal Circulation was supported by the National Institutes of Health.